Originally organized by the Nationale Herdenking 15 Augustus 1945 Comité, this annual commemoration and ball honors the liberation of the Dutch East Indies in 1945. At the committee’s request, The Indo Project began hosting the event in 2023 and is honored to continue this tradition with our community. Read through our previous event highlights to experience the spirit of these sacred remembrances.
A DAY TO REMEMBER – AUGUST 8, 2026
The Indo Project brought together members of the Indo-Dutch community for an afternoon centered on remembrance, resilience, music, food, and community.
The program opened at 2:00 p.m. with doors opening, check-in, background music, and a raffle benefiting The Indo Project’s mission. Following welcoming remarks by MC Margherita, the event began with a moving flag ceremony. The Dutch and American flags were carried in, followed by the singing of both national anthems and a period of silence honoring the civilians and military personnel who lost their lives during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, as well as the war and its aftermath in Asia.
At 3:00 p.m., The Indo Project’s mission was presented, with a focus on the resilience of the Indo people. This theme continued through a community sing-along of I Have a Dream, followed by Indo Mama’s – Oma’s Mom’s Bali, led by Margherita.
The atmosphere then shifted from reflection to celebration. At 3:15 p.m., guests were invited with the familiar call of “Eten halen!” — Let’s go eat! Food service began with music from the KOOL BREEZZ band, while guests enjoyed dancing and socializing as food was served.
The afternoon also included a special award presentation honoring Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich, with a video presentation and acceptance segment introduced by Jeff.
The celebration continued with raffle prizes, followed by dessert, coffee, and more dancing. Guests were encouraged to gather around the dessert and coffee table before the event concluded with a farewell at 6:00 p.m.
The program reflected the spirit of The Indo Project: remembering the past, honoring those who came before us, celebrating Indo culture, and bringing generations together through music, food, and community.
Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich – Indo Lifetime Achievement Award
This year, The Indo Project is proud to present its Indo Lifetime Achievement Award to Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich for her contributions to our community. Hetty has dedicated her life to keeping our community’s stories alive. Through her powerful and award-winning documentaries, including Contractpensions, The Buitenkampers, and Klanken van Oorsprong, she has beautifully captured the history, struggles, and vibrant cultural impact of the Indo diaspora.
Her dedication continued with the recent release of ANAK INDIË, a deeply moving yet humorous film exploring Indo-European heritage through a rich mosaic of personal stories where past and present collide. This latest masterpiece underscores her vital role as a generational bridge, keeping the memory of our ancestors vibrant and unforgettable.
Hetty will join the previously awarded Indo Lifetime Achievement Award winners. Since introducing the award in 2023, The Indo Project has recognized extraordinary community pillars, including past recipients René Creutzberg, Henny Neys, and AVIO, the Dutch social club in South California.
Food, Music, Activities
Guests will enjoy live music by Kool Breezzz Band, a raffle, and delicious Indonesian cuisine catered by Nataly Indo OC. Your $36 ticket includes entry, buffet style meal (catered by Maryati of Bali Isle), water, coffee/tea and dessert.
Support & Sponsorship
Support the Indo community through sponsorship! We welcome individuals, families, and businesses to support this important event through sponsorship or donations. All proceeds help sustain The Indo Project’s mission and community programming. Sponsorship options include:
- Platinum Sponsor ($1,000): Reserved table for 8, stage banner, and full-page program ad or commemoration
- Gold Sponsor ($750): Reserved table for 8, table banner, and half-page program ad
- Silver Sponsor ($500): Four reserved seats, table banner, and quarter-page program ad
To become a sponsor or for more information, contact TIP Treasurer Marghuerite Scaglione at (407) 369 3822.
Additional options include placing business card or tribute ads in the event program or donating raffle prizes such as gift cards, spa treatments, tickets, games, or other items. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Since more than 40 years I am researching the life of my father and in parallel the shipping disaster of the Poelau Bras (March 7, 1942). I am doing this togethet with Peter Verteeg. We have come a long way retrieving the passengers that survived, and the ones that lost their lives. We have found the baby girl of 10 days at the time, but now a grand lady of 84 years. We still keep searching for the fate of the people defined as unknown, One of them is Johan Bernardus Lisapay (July 12, 1923 -May 30, 1963). Johan passed away in Los Angeles, California, leaving his wife and sisters. He is one of the missing survivors. So I am hoping to find family members that can help us with the story of his life, of which we only have limited details from after the war.